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tshoberg@westfargopioneer.com

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Just as relatives and family members from around the world returned home over the holidays to spend time with their loved ones, so too did some former West Fargo boys hockey players. Last week, several ex-Packers took to the ice at Veteran's Memorial Arena in West Fargo to practice alongside the current crop of varsity players. "It's a lot of fun, and it's nice to be back," said Dusty Jonasson, a 2010 graduate of West Fargo High School. Alongside Dusty Jonasson (who visited with the team but did not lace up because of illness) was his brother, Conor Jonasson, as well as Tyler Swanson, De

Last Friday, members of the West Fargo girls hockey team decided to do a little something to give back to the community. Beginning at 12:30 p.m., the Packers took turns ringing the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign bell in front of Sam's Club in Fargo. The first three volunteers to take the starting shift were Alli Springer, Tori Holland and Hayley Walsh. Dressed in their Packer garb, the trio was set to ring the bell for a few hours until replacements came. "It's just a nice thing to do," said Walsh, a junior defenseman. This year's Red Kettle Campaign officially ended at 3 p.m.

Remy's tail wagged fervently as he worked the ground ahead. A strong breeze from the west pushed scent perfectly in his direction, and the 19-month-old pup used it to his advantage. "Good boy," I said. "Find the birds." Although young, Remy has picked up on the English language in fairly short order. In contrast, it took his owner much longer to decipher tail language; to know the difference between "I'm just a happy hunting dog" and "bird!" Believe it or not, the signs are subtle; but the real key is the angle of the waggle.

Being a procrastinator sounds like a lot of work, but it really isn't. All you do is sit around and shamelessly put off whatever task needs to get done until the very last minute. But while it may be the highest of achievements for any connoisseur of the clock crunch, procrastinating does have its drawbacks, especially around the holidays. True master procrastinators know internet sales are out of the question, and instead have the night-before-Christmas gift grab down to a fine art. They can zip through a bustling mall and check off a shopping list as if they're flicking ticks off a dog.

Out of the seven high school sports that comprise the winter season, two West Fargo teams have yet to suffer a loss: girls basketball and wrestling. The Packers girls basketball team sits atop the Eastern Dakota Conference standings with no losses and four wins to its credit, including a decisive victory against Fargo Shanley. The strong start is in stark contrast to recent years when similar teams have struggled to even make it to postseason play.

The message from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department to hunters is clear: do not expect a quick turnaround from this year's low deer and pheasant numbers. In fact, for people who love the outdoors and hunting, the "good old days" may be right now, especially if current trends continue. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has been harping about the loss of Conservation Reserve Program acres for years, and their message was no different during a public input meeting Nov. 30 in Casselton.

The morning chill was every bit the 17 degrees promised by my digital truck thermometer, if not less. Almost immediately upon removing the Remington 870 pump shotgun from its case, lacy veins of frost enveloped the matte-finished barrel. There was no snow on the ground, but a slight breeze out of the west carried the unmistakable metallic tang of a fast-approaching winter.

The Packers hosted the West Fargo Quadrangular on Saturday as the opener to their boys swimming and diving season. By meet's end, West Fargo had accumulated 744 points to beat out defending East Region champion Fargo North, as well as Davies and Grand Forks. But for longtime Packers coach Marsha Dahl, kicking off the season with a victory is bittersweet. "When you win, it puts more pressure on yourself and your team," said Dahl, who is in her 23rd year of coaching both boys and girls West Fargo swimming teams.

Two games, two wins; not a bad way to start the season for the West Fargo girls basketball team. And while two victories out of 19 total games seems like a drop in the bucket, especially so early in the season, it's at least a step in the right direction for a Packers team hoping to rebound after missing out on another state tournament bid last year. They might have a bit of a chip on their shoulder toward their next opponent, too. At 5:45 p.m.

When West Fargo School District officials tried to explain the National Certification process during a school board meeting Monday night, they threw around verbiage like "rigorous" and "consuming." In a nutshell, the process is downright tough. "I file like I was doing my master's thesis all over again - and in just six months," said Molly Bestge, one of three West Fargo teachers who recently received National Board Certification.